Tunisia Ben Ali biography Tunisian ex-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was born in September 1936. He was expelled from school for joining the resistance to French colonial 14/01/2011
no comment Anger on the streets of Tunisia Anti-government demonstrators on the streets of the Tunisian capital after President Ben Ali dismissed the government and announced elections would 14/01/2011
Lebanon Lebanon teeters on the brink At the moment, Michel Suleiman is the man with the most difficult job in Lebanon. On Monday, the christian president must bring the separate 14/01/2011
Italy Berlusconi faces fresh probe over teenage girl Silvio Berlusconi is facing a fresh investigation over a teenage nightclub dancer who attended parties at his private residence. It comes a day 14/01/2011
brussels bureau Romanian disappointment over Schengen Cristian Preda, a Romanian member of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, looks forward to more trust between EU partners over the 14/01/2011
brussels bureau Romania, Bulgaria see Schengen prospects recede Blocked from entering the Schengen area this spring, Romania’s relationship with its European Union partners is under strain. France and Germany are 14/01/2011
Tunisia Tunisian president quits Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali has stepped aside after failing to quell the worst anti-government unrest in his two decades in 14/01/2011
corporate Fiat's rational behind Mirafiori move With not a single euro of Fiat’s profit coming from its Italian operations, boss Sergio Marchionne was able to talk tough in the run-up to the vote 14/01/2011
Lebanon Turkey tries to diffuse Lebanon crisis Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey will play an ‘active role’ in trying to end the latest crisis in Lebanon. The pledge came after 14/01/2011
world news Pick of the Clicks: Mother Nature's ruthless streak Mother Nature does not discriminate. Viewers of news channels and websites this week can be forgiven for confusing well-to-do suburbs of 14/01/2011
learning world Education bridging rural-urban divide In this edition of our special “Learning World” series we take a look at three countries. Migrants to China’s ever-expanding cities are denied 14/01/2011
Australia Solidarity in the Queensland "war zone" Parts of Brisbane look like a “war zone” according to Queensland’s state premier Anna Bligh, as the clear-up operation gets underway after 14/01/2011
Tunisia Tunisian government dismissed amid chaos Tunisian Television is reporting a curfew has been imposed across the country from 5.00 pm Friday until 7.00 am on Saturday. It is also reported that 14/01/2011
Germany Germany unveils anti-dioxin action plan Germany has unveiled an action plan to enforce higher standards in animal feed following the recent dioxin food scandal. The discovery of the 14/01/2011
economy China fights inflation via bank reserves In its continued efforts to fight inflation, China’s central bank has again raised the amounts that banks must keep in reserve. It was the fourth 14/01/2011
economy Euro zone inflation spikes More expensive fuel for transport and higher food prices were behind a spike in inflation in the euro zone in December. Energy prices were 11 14/01/2011
economy Scrappage schemes over, car sales slump Sales of new cars fell five and a half percent in Europe last year. The slump came with the end of government incentive schemes designed to get 14/01/2011
Unreported Europe Afghanistan's fragile people After years of war, battle shock has spread among the people of Afghanistan, but while the physical wounds are visible, the psychological danger is 14/01/2011
le mag Germany's musical take on life with the Wall A musical has opened in Germany that deals with what life was like under the Berlin Wall. “Hinterm Horizont” or “Beyond the Horizon” is based on the 14/01/2011
Cinema France brings film festivals to you Unifrance, which promotes French cinema abroad, and the AlloCiné website are organizing a two-week festival uniquely for the net and dedicated to 14/01/2011
Tunisia Protesters call on Ben Ali to quit now The Tunisian capital Tunis is the scene of massive protests demanding the immediate resignation of the president Zine al-Albadine Ben Ali who has 14/01/2011
Brazil Mudslides devastate Brazil holiday town In normal times Teresopolis is a holiday town. But coffins are being prepared for the victims of the Brazilian floods and landslides. Identifying 14/01/2011
musica Vienna Philharmonic breaks with the past The VPO is moving on: the Vienna Philharmonic is still one of the world’s top orchestras, boasting that special Viennese sound; and still synonymous 14/01/2011
musica Bonus: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Please find a few excerpts in English from our interview with Albena Danailova, ‘concertmistress’ of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and Dr 14/01/2011
world news Brisbane clean up starts In Brisbane the clean-up has started in some areas as the floods have started to recede. Hundreds of volunteers have been helping, in many cases even 14/01/2011
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan moves to extend presidential term Kazakhstan’s parliament has voted unanimously in favour of a referendum on extending President Nazarbayev’s term in office. A yes vote would allow 14/01/2011
no comment Mount Etna briefly erupts Italy’s volcanic Mount Etna spews plumes of ash and sends lava down its slopes, forcing authorities to close airports briefly. 14/01/2011
no comment Clashes break out in Turkey's Diyarbakir Turkish police fire water cannons and tear gas at protesters as the trial of 151 Kurdish activists and politicians resume in the southeast city of 14/01/2011
no comment UN vehicles attacked in Abidjan Supporters of incumbent leader Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo destroy a United Nations vehicle in Abidjan, setting it ablaze and beating the driver. 14/01/2011
